Strike is costing firm €200k per day

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has reiterated his calls for Bus Eireann union leaders to reopen talks on the damaging strike over pay cuts.

Mr Varadkar said the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) has a role to play in reducing costs but said that he totally rejects claims that he has issued any instructions to company management.

"The NBRU has an obligation to Bus Eireann passengers as well as its own members to immediately re-enter talks with Bus Eireann," the minister said.

"Company management is available for talks, without preconditions, at any time."

Bus Eireann claims that it is losing €200,000 a day because of the strike.

A second day of walkouts over pay cuts has put 95% of services off the road with 70,000 passengers and commuters facing deepening travel chaos. No talks have been planned between unions and management.

Mr Varadkar said he had not issued direct instructions to Bus Eireann management on how to handle the row.

"As I have stated repeatedly, I fully support management in its efforts to put the company's finances on a sustainable footing and protect jobs. The NBRU also has a role to play in that process, but can only do so by re-entering negotiations," he said.

"Tens of thousands of passengers are being inconvenienced today by this industrial action. I urge the NBRU to take swift action and re-enter negotiations without preconditions immediately."

The NBRU chief Michael Flaherty has accused the minister of interfering in the dispute to direct the Bus Eireann response.

Services for 114,000 school children are expected to operate as normal today but more than 70,000 passengers are facing travel chaos.

The strike centres on a row over €5million in payroll savings.

Workers from Siptu and the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), which have also balloted members for industrial action, have refused to pass picket lines.

"Bus Eireann would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers due to this industrial action," the company said.

It added that the only services running are the expressway inter-city.

Translink services between Dublin and Belfast will run every hour from 10am-10pm from Custom House Quay. Similarly, the route 33 to and from Derry will only have Translink services running at 10am, 13pm, 17.30pm and 22pm, again from the Custom House.

The GOBE service between Dublin Airport and Cork is expected to stay on the road.

NBRU bosses have warned that workers will strike until the company shelves the pay cuts plan or opens negotiations on new proposals.